"I use my off duty time to investigate scientific curiosities of my own design, because I'm here, and I can, and these things tickle my imagination." This awesome nugget of inspiration comes to you from NASA astronaut and chemist Don Pettit, who is currently hanging out, sans gravity, on the International Space Station. While he's not making discoveries about outer space and hunting for aliens (I assume), he conducts fun experiments to see what happens to earthly elements in outer space. That involves doing Yo-Yo tricks in space, and then getting to name them whatever he wants because he's the first person to do zero gravity Yo-Yo tricks. Way to make everyone else feel totally inadequate about their accomplishments, Don Pettit. 

Lancing College , Quadrangle, 1989

Photographer Mark Draisey was given the opportunity to capture a unique and in-depth insight into the history-laden Public Schools of Britain [in the UK what are called "Public Schools" are actually the elite private schools] . Since the start of the project many years ago, he has assumed a collection of over 2000 high quality photographs documenting the lifestyle of boys' boarding schools across the UK. His series witnessed the changes these schools went through over the years and after thirty years of work, the photographs will soon be released in a beautiful book.

Based in London, The Amazings is a simple project inspired by one of the eternal tenets of society: listen to your elders. With experience comes wisdom, and with every stage of your life comes a new opportunity to learn. The Amazings are a group of veterans of several fields, all of whom have come together to share their knowledge with anyone (in London, so far) who wants to learn. You can also nominate your own city. Classes in the ever-expanding repertoire of The Amazings currently include subjects like journalism writing, authentic Indian and French cuisine, trompe l'oeil painting, public speaking, woodworking, perfume making, and much more.

Happy Birthday, Louis Braille!

Louis Braille (January 4, 1809 – January 6, 1852) was the inventor of Braille, the language system designed for the use of the blind or visually impaired. Braille himself had been blinded in an accident as a small child, and was raised as normally as possible by his parents, who helped him navigate their village with specially-designed canes. Braille studied at the National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, and his own thirst for learning pushed him to make the world as accessible as possible for the blind, stating, "Access to communication in the widest sense is access to knowledge... We do not need pity, nor do we need to be reminded we are vulnerable. We must be treated as equals – and communication is the way this can be brought about."

"A Teaspoon of sea water can contain more than a million living creatures," - and that's why I use Purrell.

This short video about Plankton is a microscope's greatest find and germaphobe's worst nightmare. It's as if Science is on a daily mission to freak me out. Watch "The Secret Life of Plankton" to discover the cornucopia of micro-tinies with which we share our Earth.

How good is your musical ear? Test or train your ears at The Theta Music Trainer.